When I first took up astronomy as a hobby in the late 60's our knowledge of the planets in our own solar system was still limited. Now we can study the atmosphere of planets orbiting other stars many light-years away.

It may not be long before we detect signs of life on earth-like planets.

--------------"[A scientific theory] describes Nature as absurd from the point of view of common sense. And it agrees fully with experiment. So I hope you can accept Nature as She is - absurd."- Richard P. Feynman